Wire wrapping tool



Nov. 21, 1967 NUBUO SHIME 3,353,343

WIRE- WRAPPING TOOL Filed March 15, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 :F LJ

Nov. 21, 1967 NUBUO SHIME 3,353,343

' WIRE WRAPPING TOOL Filed March 15, 1965 Fig.2.

a Shets-Sheet 2 Nqv. 21; 1967 Filed March 15, 1965 NUBUO SHIME WIRE WRAPPING TOOL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent Ofifice 3,353,343 Patented Nov. 21, 1967 WIRE WRAPPING TOOL Nubuo Shime, Wakayama-ken, Japan, assignor to Toshm Electric C0., Ltd., Osaka, Japan,a corporation of Japan Filed Mar. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 439,696 Claims priority, application Japan, Mar. 23, 1964, 39/ 15,7 60 3 Claims. (Cl. 57-10) The present invention relates to a tool for the wrapping of a wire about a cable. The wire is preformed into an open helical winding.

In the hand-wrapping of a preformed helical wire (or rod) about a cable, of the type shown in U.S Patent No. 2,761,273, certain difficulties are encountered. If the cable to be wrapped carries high voltage, the line man performing the wrapping must be perfectly insulated. Often the line man must perform in a narrow and inconvenient space on the top portion of a pole and it is difficult for him to achieve such perfect insulation.

It is the objective of the present invention to provide a tool for wrapping energized (hot line) electrical cables with wire which is preformed into a loose helical shape.

It is another objective of the present invention that the wrapping tool form the wire (armor rods) easily about the cable without strain, even when the wire is of comparatively soft metal wire.

In accordance with the present invention, a tool is provided having an opening for the wire and cable. The inner part of the tool is rotated and wraps the wire about the cable. The opening is closed during rotation to retain the wire and cable within the tool.

Other objectives will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the tool showing its five basic parts;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the assembled tool;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view, partially cut-away, of various components of the tool;

FIG. 4 is a side view, partially in section, of a part of the tool;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another part of the tool; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the tool in operation.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the tool includes an outer frame member 1 of ring shape. A guide 4 and a twisting head 5 are mounted in the frame 1 so that they are able to rotate when turned. A rotator 25 having a handle 12 is also provided. A plate 13 holds the guide 4 and the twisting head 5 and the rotator 25 within frame 1.

The frame 1 is ring-shaped and has an inlet 2 made by cutting a portion of the frame. Two internal circumferential portions 6 and 7, separated by flange 3, are provided as portions of the frame 1. At least two indentations 9 and 9' are provided in the side 8 of the frame 1. These indentations are cut down as far as the flange 3.

Pawls and 10' are mounted in the indentations 9 and 9', respectively. These pawls are spring-loaded by springs 44 and 44, respectively. The pawl springs 44 and 44' push pawls 10 and 10 towards the center of frame member 1. The set screws 45 and 45 are internal guides for the pawl springs. The screws 46 and 46' rotatably fasten the pawls 10 and 10' to the frame 1. Frame 1 has a projecting portion 12 to which handle 11 is removably attached.

The twisting head 5 has two indentations 14 and 14 which connect with the cut 15 provided in twisting head 5. The indentations are slanted inward towards the top of the head (the top is at the left side of FIG. 1). In other words, the two indentations 14 and 14 are enlarged in the direction of the guide 4 and have the inclination in the direction of the guide 4.

The twisting head 5 has, at its exterior, a large circumference 17 and a hub 18 which are separated by a flange 16. The diameter of the large circumference 17 in the outside face of twisting head 5 is matched to the circular part 7 so that the twisting head may be mounted in the frame 1. A plurality of ratchet teeth 19 are provided on the large circumference 17. A plurality of pin-holes 20 (FIGURES 1 and 5) are drilled on flange 16 at equal distance to each other and on a common circle.

Two pins 22 and 22 are provided on the back face 21 of the twisting head 5. These pins are positioned across the cuts 41 and 41' described hereafter and are spaced from each other. In the alternative, only one pin need be used.

A channel (arched trench) 23 is provided in the circumference portion of the back face 21. A spiral spring 24, helically wound, is provided in the U-shaped channel 23. One end of spring 24 is attached to the head 5.

The rotator 12' has an exterior ring portion 25 and a flange 26 having an exterior circumference 27. A portion 29 of the rotator 25 is out to provide an opening 30. The inner circular surface of the rotator has a diameter slightly larger than that of the outside surface 18 of the twisting head 5. The circular exterior portion 27 of rotator 12' has the same diameter as the circle of the teeth 17 of head 5, The circular portion 27 fits into the inside diameter of the end plate 13.

A plural number of U-shaped cuts 32 are provided in a side face in the wall of the ring portion of rotator 25. A plurality of spring-loaded ratchets 33 and 33' are provided in the U-shaped cuts 32 and are mounted by screws 49 and 49, respectively. The pawls, when not compressed inwardly, protrude from the back (under) face of the rotator, see FIG. 4.

Rotator 25 has a projection 12' upon which, in order to engage the projective portion 12, a handle 11 is mounted. The projective portion 12' is positioned on the ring portion.

The guide plate 4 has an outside diameter almost equal to the inside diameter of the inner circular portion 6. A U-shaped slot 36 is provided in the guide 4. The width of the slot 36 is substantially the same as that of the inlet 2 and the cut 15. Two guide plates 38 and 38' are perpendicularly welded on guide plate 4. Plates 38 and 38' make a right angle with the guide plate 4 and project from the both sides 37 and 37 of the U-shaped slot 36.

One end of the spring 24 is attached to a pin 40 in head 5. The spring acts between head 5 and plate 4. The plate.

4 has two cut-out portions 41 and 41 at its outer face.

These cuts are positioned at 180 from each other. They.

cooperate with pins 22 and 22' to limit the travel of the plate 4 relative to head 5. These pins are in the exterior portion for the twisting head 5 and project from it. One of the ends 42 and 42' of the cuts 41 and 41, respectively, cooperate with the pins 22 and 22'. The U-shaped slot 36 of plate 4, along with the cut 15 in the twisting head 5, forms an opening for the cable (armor rods), see FIG. 5. An end plate 13 is attached by screws 47 to the open side 8 of the frame 1. End plate 13 holds the tool together.

The springs 44 and 44' push the pawls 10 and 10' inward toward the center of the frame. The panel hook ends of pawls 10 and 10' are fed into the teeth 17 provided in the flange 16 in the twisting head 5. This provides one-way rotation of the head 5.

The ratchets 33 and 33' are mounted in the U-shaped cuts 32 and 32' of the rotator 25. They are pointed downward and are fed into the pin-holes 20 for the positive one-way rotation of the twisting head.

The mehod for employing the use of the above-described tool is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The inlet 2 in the frame 1, the cut 15 for the twisting head 5, and the opening orifice 30 in the rotator 5 are disposed in the same direction, see FIGS. 2 and 6. First, two legs in the preformed wrapping Wire (armor rods) C and C are placed loosely around cable conductor A by hand. The wrapping tool of the present invention is applied in the direction of the conductor. That is, the conductor A is inserted into the inlet 2. The U-shaped slot 36 in the guide 4 and the guide plates 38 and 38' are disposed in the same direction to that of the inlet 2 in the frame 1.

The conductor A is positioned in the inlet 2 until the middle part of the conductor and the guide plates 33 and 38' are touching both the legs C and C of the wrapping wire. The wire is in two strands, with each strand being positioned in one of the cuts 14 and 14'.

The guide 4 is held by the pins 22 and 22'. The pins 22 and 22 are mounted so that they project from the sidewall surface 21 in the twisting head 5. The cuts 41 and 41 are pushed by the pins 22 and the spring 24 provided in the twisting head 5. The maximum angle between the U-shaped slot 36 and the cuts is a 90 angle which is determined by the limited travel of the plate 4 relative to head 5.

By the operation of shutting (or opening) of the bandle 11' relative to handle 11, the rotator 25 is rotated about 30 degrees back and forth within internal portion 7 of the frame 1. The twisting head rotator 5 is driven in one direction by the operation of the ratchets 33 and 33' in the rotator 25. The ratchet heads fit into the pin-holes and 20' in the flange 16 in head 5.

The mutual operation between the said ratchets 33 and 33' and the ratchets 10 and 10' mounted on the frame 1 rotates the twisting head rotator 5 in the counter-clockwise direction only, as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7. The two legs C and C of the wire are inserted all the way into the cuts 14 and 14 by the rotation of the twisting head 5. The wires C and C are gradually brought around the cable A. The guide 4 is rotated from its original position to another position by the rotation of the said twisting head rotator 5 and the rotation of the wire legs C and C. This movement of the guide compresses its spring 24 and is limited by the operation of pins 22 and 22' in cuts 41.

The cut portion 15 is shut during the wrapping operation by the rotation of the twisting head. After completely carrying out the wrapping, the guide 4 is discharged to its original position by the elasticity of the said helical spring 24 provided in the U-shaped channel 23. The guide 4 therefore returns to its opened portion 2.

In addition to the above-described parts and operation, the rotation of the wire legs C and C is easily rotated by the connection of the legs C and C at their end B. When the end B is rotated by the operation of the guide plate 38 and 38' the legs are also rotated.

As described hereinabove, the present invention is not 55 limited by the rotation mechanism comprising the ratchet mechanism. A chain or rope may be used to rotate the twisting head.

By using the wrapping tool of the present invention,

the wire legs C and C are exactly introduced into the 5 surface in the cable A. The cable may be twisted while conducting current.

In case weak metals such as an aluminum alloy, copper alloy, or the comparatively soft and weak metals are used as the wrapping wire, care must be exercised not to strain the wire.

I claim:

1. A wire wrapping tool to form a preformed helically wound wire around a cable comprising a frame member having an opening for the insertion therein of the wire and the cable;

a handle portion attached to said frame member;

a rotatable twisting head having an opening adapted for insertion of said wire and cable;

a twisting head rotator having an opening adapted for insertion of said wire and cable, said rotator including means engageable with said twisting head to retate said twisting head;

means acting between the frame and the twisting head to limit rotation of said twisting head to one direction upon oscillation of the twisting head rotator;

a guide having an opening adapted for insertion of said wire and cable;

means between said guide and said twisting head to provide limited motion of said guide relative to said twisting head wherein said preformed wires and cable are inserted into the aligned openings in said frame member, twisting head, twisting head rotator and guide, and said guide closes the opening in said twisting head during the wrapping operation;

means attached to said frame member to retain the said twisting head, twisting head rotator and guide within said frame.

2. A tool as in claim 1 wherein the means for rotation between the head and rotator includes a spring-loaded pawls which cooperates with holes in the opposite member.

3. A tool as in claim 1 wherein the means acting between said twisting head and frame comprises a pawl on the frame cooperating with teeth on the head to assure one-way rotation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 444,808 1/1891 'Beals 140--124 1,572,907 2/1926 Taylor -123 2,414,136 1/1947 Bodendieck 57-10 2,966,774 1/1961 Bowen 57-10 FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

B. S. TAYLOR. Assistant Examiner. 

1. A WIRE WRAPPING TOOL TO FORM A PREFORMED HELICALLY WOUND WIRE AROUND A CABLE COMPRISING A FRAME MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING FOR THE INSERTION THEREIN OF THE WIRE AND THE CABLE; A HANDLE PORTION ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME MEMBER; A ROTATABLE TWISTING HEAD HAVING AN OPENING ADAPTED FOR INSERTION OF SAID WIRE AND CABLE; A TWISTING HEAD ROTATOR HAVING AN OPENING ADAPTED FOR INSERTION OF SAID WIRE AND CABLE, SAID ROTATOR INCLUDING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID TWISTING HEAD TO ROTATE SAID TWISTING HEAD; MEANS ACTING BETWEEN THE FRAME AND THE TWISTING HEAD TO LIMIT ROTATION OF SAID TWISTING HEAD ROTATOR; TION UPON OSCILLATION OF THE TWISTING HEAD ROTATOR; A GUIDE HAVING AN OPENING ADATPED FOR INSERTION OF SAID WIRE AND CABLE; MEANS BETWEEN SAID GUIDE AND SAID TWISTING HEAD TO PROVIDE LIMITED MOTION OF SAID GUIDE RELATIVE TO SAID TWISTING HEAD WHEREIN SAID PREFORMED WIRES AND CABLE ARE INSERTED INTO THE ALIGNED OPENINS IN SAID FRAME MEMBER, TWISTING HEAD, TWISTING HEAD ROTATOR AND GUIDE, AND SAID GUIDE CLOSES THE OPENING IN SAID TWISTING HEAD DURING THE WRAPPING OPERATION; MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME MEMBER TO RETAIN THE SAID TWISTING HEAD, TWISTING HEAD ROTATOR AND GUIDE WITHIN SAID FRAME. 